OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - On Monday, November 1, 2010, University of Ottawa Professor William Amos testified at the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, that Article 23 of proposed federal legislation, Bill 469, might expose Hydro-Québec to lawsuits. He stated further that Article 16 of the proposed federal law will also provide opportunities for injunctions to be obtained against measures taken by Hydro-Québec.
Under Article 23 it will be no defence that a project was approved under any provincial or federal Act. Under Article 16 the Government of Canada could be sued for negotiating environmental agreements with the Province of Québec to respect Québec undertakings. Judges would be given wide powers to reverse negotiated agreements and substitute their own environmental measures.
"We should be very cautious not to pass a Bill which could interfere with the right of Québec to negotiate environmental agreements with the Government of Canada that will enable Québec to pursue legitimate hydro electric or other development projects. Québec jobs depend upon cooperative negotiations, not judicial decrees," said Conservative MP Steven Blaney.
For further information:
Jean-Christophe de le Rue
Office of Steven Blaney, MP
Phone: 613.992.7434
Email: [email protected]
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